Here’s a really simple dish that I ate in Ikaria many mornings for breakfast. Because why not? And aren’t we always after a new breakfast idea?

Fava with some cucumber, purslane, feta and mountain tea: a perfect breakfast

Fava is essentially pureed yellow split peas and is served as a meze or side dish. But I found it a super day-starter. (Note: Greek fava is not the same as fava beans…confusing, I know.)

I’m not a big fan of eating too many pulses…they are quite hard to digest and the phytic acid and other toxins can be rough going for folk like myself with digestion and autoimmune issues. Which is why I make my own sprouts.

But while I was in Ikaria, my health was so good that I read my body and knew I was fine to eat some beans. This is how I work. Feel how my body is feeling. I don’t like food rules.

Fava is super cheap to make. You can store it for some time in the fridge and it can be eaten cold or warmed.

I like it with some yoghurt, cucumber and olives. Or feta. And always serve with chopped onion or eschalots and plenty of olive oil on top!

Breakfast fava

250g split dried yellow peas

1 large onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, chopped

1/4 cup parsley, chopped

1 lemon, juiced

1 cup olive oil

salt and pepper

Rinse the beans, then put in a pot with enough water to generously cover. Boil the fava for thirty minutes, skimming the scum from the surface. Drain. Add the onion and garlic and another dose of water to just cover and bring to the boil, place a lid on the pot, turn down the heat to a low simmer and let the fava cook away until all the water has evaporated and the peas have gone soft and mushy. Stir through the lemon juice, parsely and olive oil and roughly mash with a potato masher or fork. Put into a pyrex dish and allow to set in the fridge.

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Sarah Wilson is a New York Times bestselling and #1 Amazon bestselling author and founder of IQuitSugar.com. Her new zero-waste cookbook, Simplicious Flow, was released in Australia in September 2018. Her 2017 book First, We Make the Beast Beautiful, A New Story of Anxiety, is a besteller in the US, UK, Australia and more. On the side, she campaigns against consumerist waste. Please respect Sarah’s anti-waste values and contact us before sending your lovely wares. Privacy policy. Terms and conditions.